On-Line Collaboration


David Crawford - david.crawford@stokes.k12.nc.us


Objectives:

a. Participants will be able to identify ways they would use on-line collaboration in their classroom.
b. Participants will be able to setup an account with an on-line collaborative site, create and share a project with a group.
c. Participants will be able to locate a variety of on-line collaborative tools.

Steps For Collaboration

>1. Before you start - for many of the on-line tools you (and all participants) will need a valid e-mail account that can be accessed from school.
e-pals: http://www.epals.com/ is a good tool for this

1. Set up an account
a. requires some personal information
b. often, the site will send an e-mail to you, and a response is required to activate the account

2. Sign into your account
a. create your project, document, etc
b. save the project

3. Sharing your project with those you wish to collaborate with.
a. this may involve sending an e-mail with a link to the project
b. this may involve identifying others with accounts on the site
c. Typical permissions: allow the public (the word) to see, allow just people you invite to see, allowing people you invite to edit, allow comments.....

4. You now are ready to collaborate on the document.


Google Docs


Instructions for setting up a google docs account click


PBWorks


Instructions for editing PB Works

1. Go to http://wildcatmedia.pbworks.com
2. Log in using the username and password provided
3. Click on Pages and Files
4. Click on the folder: online collaboration
5. Click on New and select page
6. Name your page
7. Open your new page (it will appear in the list of pages - double click on it)
8. Edit your new page by clicking on Edit at the top of the page
9 Save your changes at the bottom.



Tools and Links


This is a small sampling of collaboration tools that are available:


Productivity Suites

(many tools including word processing)

Google docs intro video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_hJ3R8jEZM

Blogs


Presentation


Wikis





Communication

Other Collaboration


Other Web 2.0 Resources


E-Mail




Reflection


1. What obstacles did you run into - can you think of work-arounds?
2. How could on-line tools enhance the collaborative efforts in your classroom?